SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The Republican presidential contest remains unsettled, and California could be the state that finally decides it.

Super Tuesday turned out much like a children’s birthday party – everybody left with a prize, according to former California Republican Party chair Ron Nehring.

“Everyone is going to stay in this contest throughout the month of March,” said Nehring. “I’d be very surprised if anyone dropped out.”

KCBS’ Doug Sovern Reports:

Even though he didn’t land a knockout punch, Mitt Romney remained the front-runner and added to his already significant lead in delegates according to Bill Whalen with Stanford’s Hoover Institution.

“You’re going to hear a growing chorus of Republican insiders, and you’re going to see more Republican leaders in Washington and elsewhere come out of the woodwork now to endorse Romney, and essentially try to tell the other fellas that they consider the race over, and it’s time to move on,” said Whalen.

Romney will be back in California in three weeks to raise money, and the other campaigns need to start recruiting delegates here for the June 5th primary, which Nehring said could be the one that clinches the nomination for Romney.

“This is a 50 state slog, one by one, and Romney understands that,” said Nehring. “He’s been running for this office for six years and he has an organization capable of doing that. Now is where the strength of that organization is clearly paying off for Mitt Romney.”

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